Okay, I'll admit it , I'm a complete and utter science geek, and was a huge fan of Stephen Hawking. His death still seems to me to be a bit unreal. As I put it to @carolkean, my first thought upon hearing was "I feel a great disturbance in the Force."
I remember one afternoon in 1994, when I was working on framing a few pieces in my art studio and gallery, and I put on Dr. Hawking's Cambridge Lectures, which I had borrowed from the library. I don't recall how long the series was, but several hours, and I spent the entire time entranced. Any time the phone rang it was a major imposition.
What an amazing mind, and what a gift for clear spoken communication. RIP Dr. Hawking.
I remember in the beginning wondering whether his voice box would be an annoyance, but within a short time I no longer noticed it; the subject was far too fascinating for me to consider such trivialities.
And I was surprised by how often, and how easily, he slipped into and out of discussing spiritual points regarding the universe, which I had not expected. Though in truth, I have personally known a number of gifted scientists who were also people of faith, so I'm not sure why it even surprised me. Probably because it simply had yet to occur to me either way.
Released in February 1995, "The Sky Moves Sideways" was Porcupine Tree's third studio album, and the first composed and performed by the whole band, rather than as a solo project by Steven Wilson, with guest musicians. This was also their clearest and most direct homage to Pink Floyd and space rock, and is still the favorite album for many, for whom Pink Floyd was and is a favorite artist.
It is one of Marek's favorites, and the first concert at which he saw them perform, at the Knitting Factory in NYC, was in support of this album, for which I am mildly envious. I wouldn't be introduced to their music for another eleven years.
This album beautifully demonstrates the musical facility of all four band members, and how incredibly tight as a band they already were, even though they had only been together a short time when this was recorded.
All four were already at the top of their game, and they've only gotten better from here. Enjoy.
Steven Wilson - Vocals and Guitars
Colin Edwin - Bass
Richard Barbieri - Keyboards and soundscapes
Chris Maitland - Drums and Percussion
The lyrics are as follows:
We lost the skyline
We stepped right off the map
Drifted into blank space
And let the clocks relapse
We laughed the rain down
Slow burn on the lawn
Ghosts across the delta
Swallowed up the storm
Sometimes I feel like a fist
Sometimes I am the colour of air
Sometimes it's only afterwards
I find that I'm not there
In the dream dusk
We walked beside the lake
We watched the sky move sideways
And heard the evening break
Sometimes I feel like a fist
Sometimes I am the colour of air
Sometimes it's only afterwards
I find that I'm not there
All words are my own, apart from the lyrics to "The Sky Moves Sideways," which were written by Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, and all rights remain with them, their producers and their record companies.
The rights to the video, similarly, remains with Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, and their producers. I claim no rights, but am offering it here as an homage to Dr. Stephen Hawking, and to honor his passing. I am also offering it in an effort to bring the music to a broader audience, and hopefully gain the band a greater fan base.
Resteeming is welcome, you may link to my post from your own website or blog, and you may use excerpts and/or images as long as you credit me, Cori MacNaughton, and link back to this post.
Please ask for permission, before using my work without linking to this post, as all rights are reserved.
For those who are interested, here are some other pieces of music that I have posted recently, including a more recent piece by Porcupine Tree:
@crescendoofpeace/riverside-towards-the-blue-horizon-music
@crescendoofpeace/explosions-in-the-sky-the-earth-is-not-a-cold-dead-place-full-album-music
@crescendoofpeace/porcupine-tree-arriving-somewhere-but-not-here-live-music